Malnutrition and poor oral health status are major risks among primary school children at Lasbela, Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

BackgroundThis survey was focusing on health and oral hygiene status of primary school children at Lasbela district considering the comparatively less developed and socio demographically deprived part of the Country.MethodsA cross sectional survey was conducted to determine the health status of primary school children in seven tehseels of district Lasbela, Balochistan after applying proportionate sampling technique from March 2015 to July 2015. Field teams visited assigned schools to screen children and collect health related data on predesigned and pre coded proforma.ResultsOut of 200 schools, 196 schools found opened, while 2% of schools (04) remained closed. A total of 6363 students were clinically screened. About 45% of the school children had normal body mass index (BMI) and rest were falling in different categories of malnutrition. More than 19% had ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems and around 19% presented with clinical anemia. Less than 50% of children had scar of BCG vaccination and 4% informed about use of gutka/supari chewing (smokeless tobacco use).ConclusionIn conclusion, we estimated high prevalence of malnutrition, poor oral health including smokeless tobacco use, and low BCG coverage among primary school children at Lasbela. Current scenario suggests immediate and contextually focused interventions to confine existing public health risks and avoid future burden of disease.

Nutritional Status and Basic Hygiene Practices of Rural School Age Children of Savar Region, Dhaka, Bangladesh

“…Though multiple factors are associated with malnutrition, poor hygiene practice is one of the major factors linked to malnutrition among the school age children 11, 12. Nutritional status of children in many developing countries is affected by hygiene status, such as lack of clean water, poor sanitation, poor hygiene practices, and lack of access to toilets 13.…”

Nutritional Status and Dietary Intake of School-Age Children and Early Adolescents: Systematic Review in a Developing Country and Lessons for the Global Perspective

“…Twenty-eight studies reported data specifically on children between 5 and 15 years of age ( 19 , 21 – 23 , 25 – 29 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 38 , 44 , 45 , 47 – 50 , 52 , 54 , 55 , 59 , 60 , 62 – 64 , 67 ). The remaining 23 studies had children in our age group of interest but beyond it too, with seven reporting data on children between 0 and 19 years of age ( 24 , 34 , 51 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 65 ) and 16 reporting on children 5 and 19 years of age ( 18 , 20 , 30 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 39 – 43 , 46 , 53 , 57 , 66 , 68 ). There were only five studies that reported data specifically on children in the 5 to 10 age group ( 29 , 34 , 64 – 66 ) and only three studies in the 10 to 15 years age group ( 21 , 24 , 47 ).…”

“…There were only five studies that reported data specifically on children in the 5 to 10 age group ( 29 , 34 , 64 – 66 ) and only three studies in the 10 to 15 years age group ( 21 , 24 , 47 ). Province wise; 20 studies were conducted in Punjab ( 19 , 22 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 39 , 40 , 44 , 46 , 52 – 54 , 58 , 65 , 67 ), 15 in Sindh ( 18 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 30 , 32 , 36 – 38 , 43 , 45 , 49 , 55 , 63 ), eight in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KP) ( 26 , 34 , 35 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 61 , 64 ), two in Balochistan ( 25 , 51 ), four from the federal capital ( 27 , 42 , 66 , 68 ), and three from multiple cities across Pakistan ( 41 , 56 , 57 ). The remaining three studies failed to report their location ( 33 , 59 , 62 ).…”

“…A total of 35 studies were conducted in urban areas ( 18 – 46 , 52 , 63 , 65 – 68 ), while five were conducted in rural areas ( 47 – 51 ), six in both ( 53 – 58 ), and the remaining five did not report their setting ( 59 – 62 , 64 ). Forty studies were carried out in a school setting ( 15 , 16 , 19 – 22 , 24 – 40 , 42 , 44 – 52 , 55 , 58 , 59 , 61 , 63 – 65 ), nine in community setting ( 21 , 27 , 45 , 47 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 66 ), and two studies did not specify ( 22 , 64 ).…”

Evaluation of nutritional deficits among adolescents in Tando Muhammad Khan district via anthropometric measures

“…Normal dietary intake was rarely observed among the study subjects while protein-calorie malnutrition and vitamin deficiency was common among a large proportion of the sample ( Table 2). According to world health statistics, globally 186 million children are presented with stunted growth while 20 million cases of acute malnutrition are observed 21 .…”